Florence or Siena?

1.
Posted bytigasista(Budding Member 26 posts) 9y
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Hey guys

I have 2 days/nights to spend in either Florence or Siena on my way to Venice.

Which would you choose? And special things would you do?

Thanks!

2.
Posted bybentivogli(Travel Guru 2398 posts) 9y
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Siena is more cumbersome regarding transportation, but I'd definitely pick that over Florence, which is tourist hell, especially this time a year. A third option you may want to look into is Padova, just south of Venice. Very beautiful as well.

3.
Posted byamadei(Budding Member 28 posts) 9y
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I would definitely choose Florence.

It will probably be packed with tourists but... Florence is Florence! The Duomo, Palazzo Vecchio, Uffizi... You are really walking through History with a capital H..

Siena is more charming and quiet, still more "Italian-authentic" (oh well, there's plenty of tourists there too actually), but if I should choose just one of the two cities I'd go for Florence...

About the idea of Padova... Well, yes it is nice, but nothing compared to Florence honestly...

4.
Posted bydaisan(Budding Member 40 posts) 9y
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How are you travelling?If you are by train I agree that Florence is better!!Anyway on the road to Venice, there is also Ferrara.

If you are by car or moto you can go in a Agriturismo near Siena to taste Chianti Share.

5.
Posted bytravelbug_(Respected Member 110 posts) 9y
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Florence is very nice but like others have said is very touristic. It's worth going to at least once. Also if you like art etc there are good museums/ art galleries there.

I have never been to Siena but have heard that it's very nice there. I guess it depends on what you like to see and do.

6.
Posted byfguedes(Budding Member 12 posts) 9y
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FLORENCE!

7.
Posted bygojanny(Budding Member 7 posts) 9y
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If you travel by car you can do 1 day in each of them. There are a few travleller thoughts I wrote about such a trip here:Florence - gojanny.com/travelpages/Firence.htmlSiena - gojanny.com/travelpages/Siena.htmlThere is one more beautiful place in between thouse two - gojanny.com/travelpages/sangimignano.html

8.
Posted byHineikin15(Budding Member 9 posts) 9y
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I am also making this same decision on where to spend two nights. Since we are on our honeymoon and want a more relaxed pace we are thinking Siena.

I noticed that someone posted transportation is difficult? Is it difficult to get to Siena via train or bus from Florence? We fly into Florence. Can anyone give me an idea of the absolute best way to get from the Florence airport to Siena?

Much appreciation...

9.
Posted bybentivogli(Travel Guru 2398 posts) 9y
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I posted that Siena, on a journey from Rome to Venice, makes for less convenient stop than Florence. Other than that, Siena can be reached from Florence fairly easily. Take a look at the Trenitalia website. I believe there also is a coach service from Florence airport directly to Siena; your airline should know, else check the airport website.

Btw if you want quiet, Siena is a better choice than Florence but still hardly a quiet town. Cortona, Pistoia, Lucca, or even Perugia, draw a lot fewer tourists, so they may be more suitable. Then again, there's less to see in those towns.

10.
Posted byamadei(Budding Member 28 posts) 9y
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Quoting bentivogli

I posted that Siena, on a journey from Rome to Venice, makes for less convenient stop than Florence. Other than that, Siena can be reached from Florence fairly easily. Take a look at the Trenitalia website. I believe there also is a coach service from Florence airport directly to Siena; your airline should know, else check the airport website.

Btw if you want quiet, Siena is a better choice than Florence but still hardly a quiet town. Cortona, Pistoia, Lucca, or even Perugia, draw a lot fewer tourists, so they may be more suitable. Then again, there's less to see in those towns.